Theoria
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Italian Game

Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit

C57tacticalaggressiveoffbeat

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bc4Nf6
  4. 4.Ng5d5
  5. 5.exd5b5
  6. 6.Bf1h6
  7. 7.Nxf7

No game statistics for this position yet.

A sharp C57 line where White meets Ulvestad's 6...h6 with the knight sacrifice 7. Nxf7, a 1963 discovery that leaves Black's setup in trouble.

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About the Kurkin Gambit

The Kurkin Gambit answers 6...h6, the counterattack on the g5-knight recommended by Olaf Ulvestad. Retreating with 7. Nf3 or capturing with 7. dxc6 both suit Black, so White instead sacrifices the knight on f7, forking queen and rook. Discovered in 1963, the idea undermines Ulvestad's analysis. After 7...Kxf7 8. dxc6 White has a material surplus of pawns for the piece and Black's king has lost its cover, a position that favors White.

Popular continuations

No continuations known for this position yet.